Safety razor and blade therefor



Aug. 10, 1937. R. M. PRICE SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADE THEREFOR Filed Oct. 5, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @591- @mw MJ @W ug. l0, 1937. R. M. PRICE I SAFETY RAZOR AND BLADE THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Skaai 2 Filed 001:. 5, 1954 CC JSM if @Hmmm g 5.

Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Robert M. Price, West Springfield, Mass., assignor of seven-tenths to Clarence J. McKenzie, Winthrop, Mass.

Application October 5, 1934, Serial No. 747,058

16 Claims.

My invention relates to safety razors and blades therefor, and has particular reference to safety razors of the Gillette type, comprising a relatively thin, double edged blade clamped in shaving position between separable guard and back members of a holder.

It is an object of my invention to provide a specially designed razor blade and holder therefor, so constructed and arranged as to cooperate to properly and positively center the blade, to thus insure the proper positioning of the cutting edge or edges of the blade with respect to the holder.

It is an object of my invention to provide a safety razor blade which, in cooperation with a suitably designed holder, Will automatically centralize the blade in the holder by utilizing the natural and inherent resiliency of the material of which the blade is made.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a razor blade having a exible tongue portion, and to provide a blade holder having an inclined or wedge surface cooperating with the flexible tongue to accurately center the blade with respect to the holder when the blade is' clamped in shaving position between the separable guard and back members of the holder.

lt is a further object of my invention to provide a razor blade having spaced longitudinal slits or slots therein located between the cutting edges and the longitudinal center of the blade and extending inwardly from both ends thereof toward the center of the blade to provide two exible tongues capable of flexing or bending out of the plane of the remainder of the blade, and to provide a blade holder having spaced, inclined or wedge surfaces which, as the guard and back members of the holder are moved together, force the tongues out of the plane of the remainder of the blade and coact with the tongues to accurately center the blade with respect to the holder.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a holder for blades of the above mentioned character and to incorporate in the holder means which engage the ile-xible tongue portions as the guard and back members are separated, t-o release the blade from the inclined or Wedge surfaces to permit the ready removal of the blade from the holder.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a blade of the above mentioned character which, while primarily designed for use with my special holder, is capable of satisfactory use with Gillette holders of the old and new types, and Which is susceptible of being ground and packaged by the use of the present grinding and packaging machinery and equipment.

It is a still further object of my invention to provide a safety razor and blade therefor which are simple in construction, cheap and easy to manufacture, strong and durable and highly efficient in the purposes for which designed.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have shown several preferred embodiments of my invention,

Figure l is a side elevation of a safety razor embodying one form of my invention,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the back member of the form of my improved blade holder shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the guard member of the form of my improved blade holder shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are plan views of several blade constructions capable of use in the form of my improved blade holder shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of another form of safety razor embodying certain features of my present invention,

Fig. l0 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is an inverted View, partly in section, of the safety razor shown in Figs. 9 and 10, this View being taken on the line ll-II of Fig. 10,

Fig. l2 is a plan view of the form of blade construction best adapted for use in the form of my improved holder shown in Figs. 9 and 10, and,

Fig. 13 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line l3-I3 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral I designates the back member of one form of my improved blade holder illustrated in Figs. l to 3 inclusive, this back member I having a concave under surface extending longitudinally of the member and having a short, centrally-positioned, depending stud 2 adapted to pass through a centrally-located aperture 3 in a guard member 4 having a convex upper surface extending longitudinally of the member and corresponding in curvature to the concave under surface of the back member l. The stud 2 passes through the opening 3 and is engaged within a threaded bore or recess 5 in a handle 6. The parts.` just described function in a manner readily understood by those familiar with the Gillette type of safety razor, i. e., when it is desired to clamp a blade in shaving position within a blade holder of this general type, the back member I is held in inverted position, a blade is placed on the back member with the stud passing through the central aperture in the blade, the guard member I is placed over the blade and back member with the stud 2 passing through the central aperture 3 of the guard member, and the handle 5 is screwed on the stud to force the guard member 4 towards the back member I and to thus clamp the blade in transverse curvature between said back and guard members.

The improved back member `I of the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the accompanying drawings, comprises, in addition to the more or less standard Gillette construction described in the preceding paragraph, a pair of spaced, depending wedge members I and 8, equally spaced from, and parallel to, the ends of the back member and equidistant from the front and rear edges thereof, as best shown in Fig. 4. The front and rear'edges of each of said wedge members are gradually inclined and converge in blunt yor rounded points 9. Intermediate the wedge members 'I and 8, the back member I is provided with a centrally-positioned, longitudinally extending, depending rib III, which extends from each side of the stud 2 and terminates adjacent the inner faces of the wedge members 'I and S. Between each of the wedge members 'l and Il and the adjacent side edges of the holder I, I provide a centrally positioned, depending lug II of a length greater than that of the bases of the wedge members 'I and 8 and of a height less than that of the said wedge members, the purpose of these lugs to be hereinafter described. If desired, the backmember may be strengthened by increasing its thickness between the wedge members 'I and 3 and the adjacent end portions of the back member.

The improved guard member 4 of the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, 'corresponds substantially to the guard member of the more or less standard Gillette construction described above, and is provided with cut out portions I2 and I3 extending inwardly from the ends of the guard member, as best shown in Fig.` 5. The front and rear walls dening the cut out portions I2 and I3 are equally spaced from the front and rear edges of the guard member and the distance between said front and rear walls, i. e., the width of each cut out portion IZ and I3, is slightly greater than the length of the lugs II. As is the usual practice, the upper face of the guard member il is provided with. a longitudinallyextending depression adapted to receive the rib II) of the back member I.

In Figs. 6, 'l and 8 of the accompanying drawings, I have shown several preferred types of blades adapted for use in connection with the guard and back members described above. The blade I4, shown in Fig. 6, has two cutting edges I5 and I6 and corresponds in general outside shape and contour to the more or less standard Gillette blade used with the old and/or new type Gillette safety razor. The blade I@ is provided with spaced apertures Il, I8 and I9 connected by the centrally positioned, longitudinally-extending slot III?, whereby lthe blade can be used with the old type Gillette holder having spaced` studs positioned on opposite sides of the central threaded stud, or can be used with the new type Gillette holder having a centrally positioned, longitudinally extending rib adapted to enter within the slot 2G when the guard and back members of the holder are clamped together. The slot 20 extends an appreciable distance beyond the apertures II and I9 and is slightly wider than the rib III. The slot 20 corresponds in its dimensions to the correspondingly-formed slot in the conventional Gillette blade, whereby the blade can, if desired, be used in a Gillette holder. In order to provide the flexible tongues forming a feature of my present invention, I slit the blade I4 inwardly from each end thereof, these slits 2| and 22 extending inwardly from the ends of the blade at opposite sides of the apertures I'I and IS and the slot 20, and terminating between the central aperture I8 and the side apertures I'I and I9. The

iiexible tongues thus provided are of a width slightly less than the width of the cut out portions I2 and I3l of the guard member I and the distance between the slits ZI and 22 is slightly greater than the length of the lugs I I of the back member I, as will be hereinafter more fully described. The form of blade shown in Fig. 7 corresponds substantially to that shown in Fig. 6, except that instead of the slits 2l and 22, I provide slots 23 and 2d to produce the eXible tongue members, the distance between the outer edges of these slots 23 and 2li being slightly greater than the length of the lugs I I of the back member I. The form of blade shown in Fig. 8 corresponds substantially to that shown in Fig. '71, except that the apertures I1 and I9 are omitted and a continuous slot 25 extends on opposite sides of the central aperture I8, thus restricting this particular blade to use with the new type of Gillette razors and with the specific holder forming the subject matter of my present invention.

In all three of the forms of blades shown in Figs. 6, '7 and 8, the centrally-positioned, longitudinally-extending slot 20 or 25 extends throughout substantially the entire length of the flexible tongue portions, and is of a width slightly greater than the minimum length of the Wedge members 'I and 8 but slightly less than the length of the bases of said wedge members, i. e., the wedge members can enter said slots and move a short distance therethrough before the inclined side surfaces of the wedge member will contact with or engage the sides of said slot.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive of the accompanying drawings, the numeral 26 designates the back member of this form of `my invention, the back member 26 having a concave under surface extending longitudinally of the member and having a short, centrally-positioned, depending stud 2'! adapted to pass Vthrough a centrally-located opening in a guard member 23 having a convex upper surface extending longitudinally of the member and corresponding in curvature to the concave under surface 0f the back member 26. The stud passes through the opening in the guard member 28 and is engaged within a threaded bore or recess 29 in a handle 30. The construction and operation of the parts just described will be readily apparent from the preceding description of Figs. l to 5 inclusive, and are well known to those familiar with the Gillette type of safety razor.

The improved back member 26 of the form of my invention shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 13, comprises, in addition to the other parts described in the preceding paragraph, a pair of spaced lugs 3l and 32 positioned near each end of the back member. Each of these lugs 3I and 32 is equally spaced from the longitudinal center of the back member 26 and has straight, parallel outer surfaces. The inner surfaces of each pair of lugs 3I and 32 are inclined and converge from their outer ends toward the body of the back member, as best shown in Fig. 13, the purpose of these depending lugs to be hereinafter described.

The improved guard member 28 of the form of my invention shown in Figs. 9, 10, ll and 13, corresponds substantially to the guard member of the more or less standard Gillette construction referred to above, and is provided with cut out portions 33 and 34 extending inwardly from the ends of the guard member, as best shown in Fig. 11. The front and rear walls dening the cut out portions 33 and 34 are equally spaced from the front and rear edges of the guard member and the distance between said front and rear walls, i. e., the width of each cut out portion 33 and 3d, is slightly greater than the distance between the straight, parallel outer surfaces of the spaced lugs 3I and 32.

In Fig. l2 of the accompanying drawings, I have shown a type of blade 35 adapted for use in connection with the guard and back members shown in Figs. 9, 10, 1l and 13 and described above. This blade 35 has two cutting edges 3S and 3l and is provided with an elongated aperture 38 positioned centrally of the blade. In order to provide the exible tongues forming a feature of my present invention, I slot the blade 35 inwardly from each end thereof, these slots 39 and 40 being of substantial width and extend ing inwardly from the side edges of the blade at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line thereof, and terminating near the center aperture 38. This construction provides flexible tongue members 4I between the slots 39 and 4G of a width less than the maximum distance between the outer ends of the inclined surfaces of the lugs 3l and 32 but greater than the minimum distance between said inclined surfaces.

Referring now to the operation of my improved blades and holder shown in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, it is to be noted that any one of the blades shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive may be placed upon the inverted back member l with the stud 2 passing through the central aperture I8 and the ends 9 of the wedge members 'l and 8 extending into the slot 23 or 25 with the said slot overlying the longitudinal rib I9. In this position, the flexible tongue portions of the blade rest upon the lugs Il, and the blade is kept in approximately the proper alnement by the wedge members I and 8 .which have entered within the slots 20 or 25. The guard member 4 is then placed over the blade and back member I with the `stud 2 passing through the aperture 3 therein. The handle 3 is then placed over the back, blade and guard with the threaded stud 2 entering the threaded bore or recess of said handle. Axial rotation of the handle 5 will cause the guard 4 to move toward the back member I until the blade is clamped in a position of transverse curvature between the back and guard. As the guard 4 moves toward the back I, the wedge members 'I and 8 are forced into the slots 20 or 25 until the side edges of the slot are engaged by the inclined side surfaces of the wedge members 'I and 8, and when the engagement is eiTected the flexible tongues are bent out of the plane of the remainder of the blade; are moved away from Vthe lugs I I; and extend through the cut out openings I2 and I3 in the guard member 4, the engagement between the inclined side surfaces of the wedge members 'I and 8 with the side edges of the slot 20 or 25 occurring after the engagement between the flexible tongue portions and the lugs II. As the guard 4 approaches the limit of its movement toward the back member I, the inclined surfaces of the wedge members 'l and 8 bear against the adjacent edges of the slot 20 or 25, and this wedge action shifts the blade transversely of the back member to positively and accurately aline the blade and to center the same in the holder to insure the proper positioning of the cutting edges I5 vand I3 with respect to the marginal nger bars of the guard member t. The body of the blade therefore assumes a posi tion of transverse curvature and the ilexible tongue members occupy the position shown in Fig. 2. When it is desired to disassemble razor thus assembledythe handle 6 is axially rotated to back the handle off of the threaded stud 2. The clamping pressure is thus relieved and the guard member 4 moves away from the back member I. During this movement, the flex ible tongues, because of their inherent resilient action, seek to return to the plane of the rcmainder of the blade, which action is usually suiiicient to force the wedges l and 8 from engagement with the adjacent edges of the slot 20 or 25. However, as the iiexible tongues ap proach the surface of the remainder of the blade, their end portions strike against the flat faces of the depending lugs II and, due to the resilient action of the flexible tongues, these tongues coact with the lugs II to positively free the flexible tongues from engagement with the wedge mer.:- bers 'I and 8. 'Ihe blade can then be readily removed from the back member I.

Referring now to the operation of my improved blade and holder shown in Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive, it is to be noted that a blade 35 of the form shown in Fig. 12 may be placed upon the inverted back member 2S with the stud 2 passing through the central aperture 38 of the blade, and with the flexible tongues 4I disposed between the spaced lugs 3| and 32. 'I'he guard member 28 is then placed over the blade 35 and back member 26 with the stud 2? passing through the aperture therein, and with the lugs 3i and 32 passing through the cut out portions 33 and 34. The handle 30 is then placed over the back, blade and guard with the threaded stud 2'! entering the threaded bore or recess 29. Axial rotation of the handle 30 will cause the guard 28 to move toward the back member 26 until the blade is clamped in a position of transverse curvature between the back and guard. As the guard 28 moves toward the back 26, the llexible tongues 4I will engage the opposed inclined side faces of the lugs 3| and 32. This engagement, as the movement of the guard 28 toward the back 25 progresses, will bend the tongues out of the plane of the remainder of the blade and will shift the blade 35 transversely of the back member to positively and accurately aline the blade and to center the same in the holder to insure the proper positioning of the cutting edges 36 and 3l with respect to the marginal finger bars oi the guard member 28,. The body of the blade therefore assumes a position of transverse curvature and the exible tongue members occupy the position shown in Fig. 10. When it is desired to disassemble the razor thus assembled, the handle 33 is axially rotated to back the handle oi of the threaded stud 21. The clamping pressure is thus relieved and the guard member 28 moves away from the back member 26. During this movement, the flexible tongues, because of their resilient action, seek to return to their former position in the surface of the remainder of the blade, and the blade can be readily removed from the back member 26 by disengaging the tongues from contact with the inclined Side faces of the lugs 3l and 32. It is obvious that releasing lugs similar to the releasing lugs ll, might be employed in the construction of razor and blad-e shown and described in connection with Figs. 9 to 13 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.

ln both of the preferred constructions shown and described herein, it is to be noted that the blade, when clamped within the holder, assumes a position of transverse curvature, i. e., the blade is flexed transversely, due to the concave under surface of the back member and the convex upper surface of the guard member. vIn addition. to the flexing of the blade in this manner, which is present in the more or less standard Gillette and other similar razors, the blade and blade holders of my preferred constructions, when the blade is clamped within the holder, cause the flexible tongue portions to be flexed in a plane at right angles to the flexing of the remainder of the blade. In other words, the blade is flexed in two different planes, one transverse to the longitudinal cutting edges of the blade, and one parallel to the said longitudinal edges. It is obvious that the flexible tongue portions may be designed in such a Way that the Various parts of the blade may be actually flexed in more than two planes.

It is to be understood that the several forms of my invention herein shown and described are to be taken as preferred embodiments of the same and that various changes may be made in the size, shape and constructionof parts without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. While I have shown the wedge member carried by the back member and the cut out portions provided in the guard member, it is obvious that this arrangement may be reversed, i. e., the wedge members may be carried by the guard member and the cut out portions may be formed in the back member. Further, the lugs 3l and 32 may be replaced by V-shaped wedge-members corresponding generally to the wedge members 'l and 8 which would enter slots formed in flexible tongues of a blade corresponding to the slots 20 and 25. Further, the releasing lugs l l shown in Figs. l to 4 inclusive may be omitted, with a corresponding omission of function, and in the event of the flexible tongues sticking on the wedges 'l and 8, these tongues could be forced from the wedges by manual release of the tongues. In other words, it is to be definitely understood that the important feature of my present invention is the provision of a blade having iexible tongue portions and a holder having inclined or Wedge portions adapted to, coopcrate with the flexible tongues to positively center the blade and to bring the cutting edges in proper alinement with the finger bars or the guard member, said centralizing to be done automatically by utilizing the resiliency of the flexible tongue of the blade.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A safety razor comprising a rectangular blade having longitudinal cutting edges, a centrally disposed flexible tongue formed integral with said blade with straight side edges parallel to said cutting edges and 4normally in the same plane as the remainder of the blade, and a holder for said blade having lugs with inclined flat faces engaging the opposite edges of said flexible tongue to force the tongue out of the plane of the remainder of the blade and simultaneously shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edges with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder.

' 2. A safety razor comprising a rectangular blade having opposed cutting edges, an elongated exible tongue formed integral with said blade with straight side edges parallel to said cutting edgesl and normally occupying the plane of the remainder of the blade, and a holder for said blade having a lug with an inclined fiat face engaging a straight side of said flexible tongue to force the tongue out of the plane of the remainder of the blade and simultaneously shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edges with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder. f

3. A safety razor comprising a substantiall rectangular blade' having a longitudinally-extending cutting edge and spaced parallel slits extending inwardly from one end of the blade to define a continuously straight sided flexible tongue spaced from said cutting edge, and a holder for said blade having a lug with an inclined flat face engaging a straight side of said flexible tongue to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edge with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder.

4:. A'safety razor comprising a substantially rectangular blade having longitudinally-extending cutting edges along opposite sides thereof and spaced parallel slits extending inwardly from each of its ends to define a pair of continuously straight sided flexible tongues spaced from said cutting edges and parallel thereto, and a holder for said blade having a pair of lugs with flat inclined faces engaging the opposite straight sides of said flexible tongues to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edges with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder.

5. A safety razor comprising a rectangular blade having a longitudinal cutting edge, a flexible tongue formed integral with said blade spaced from said cutting edge with its edges parallel thereto, said flexible tongue having a slot therein extending to the center of said blade, and a holder for said blade having a wedge-shaped lug with dat inclined faces engaging the opposed longitudinal edges of said slot to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edge with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder.

6. A safety razor comprising a rectangular blade having a longitudinal cutting edge, a flexible tongue formed integral with said blade spaced from said cutting edge with its edges parallel thereto and normally occupying the plane of the remainder of the blade, said flexible tongue having a continuously straight sided slot therein extending to the center of said blade, and a holder for said blade having a fiat faced wedge-shaped lug engaging the oppositely disposed straight edges of said slot to force the tongue out of the plane of the remainder of the blade and to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edge with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder.

7. A safety razor comprising a rectangular blade having opposed longitudinal cutting edges; a flexible tongue formed integral with said blade spaced from said cutting edges with its edges parallel thereto, said flexible tongue having a continuously straight sided slot therein, the edges of said slot extending parallel to the opposed cutting edges; and a holder for said blade having a flat-faced Wedge shaped lug, the inclined flat faces of which engage the straight edges of the slot in the flexible tongue to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edges wtih respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder.

8. A safety razor comprising a substantially rectangular blade having longitudinally-extending cutting edges along opposite sides thereof and spaced slits extending inwardly from each of its ends to dene a pair of flexible tongues with continuously straight sides spaced from said cutting edges, each of said tongues having a slot therein extending to the center of said blade, the straight edges of each of said slots extending parallel to the opposed cutting edges of said blade; and a holder for said blade having a pair of spaced flat-faced wedge-shaped lugs, the inclined faces of which engage the edges of said slots to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edges with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder.

9. A safety razor comprising a blade having a cutting edge, a flexible tongue on said blade spaced from said cutting edge, a holder` for said blade, a wedge-shaped lug on said holder engaging said flexible tongue to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edge with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder, and means carried by the holder and engaged by the flexible tongue to release the engagement between the Wedge-shaped lug and flexible tongue when the blade is to be removed from said holder.

10. A safety razor comprising a blade having a cutting edge, a flexible tongue on said blade spaced from said cutting edge and having a slot therein, a holder for said blade, a wedge-shaped lug on said holder engaging the edges of the slot in the flexible tongue to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edge with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder, and a second lug carried by the holder and engaged by the flexible tongue to release the engagement between the wedgeshaped lug and the edges of the slot when the blade is to be removed from said holder.

l1. A safety razor comprising a blade having opposed cutting edges; a pair of flexible tongues on said blade spaced from the cutting edges and each having a slot therein; a holder for said blade; a pair of spaced, wedge-shaped lugs on said holder, each engaging the edges of the slot in one of the flexible tongues to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edges with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder; and a second pair of spaced lugs carried by the holder and each engaged by one of the flexible tongues to release the engagement between the wedge-shaped lugs and the edges of the slots in the flexible tongues when the blade is to be removed from said holder.

12. In a safety razor including a blade, having a cutting edge and a flexible tongue having a continuous straight sided slot therein, the combination with a back member having a flat-faced wedge-shaped lug projecting from its surface and adapted to enter the slot in the flexible tongue, a guard member having a cut out portion underlying the flexible tongue, and means to clamp the guard on the back member to retain the blade therebetween and to force the wedgeshaped lug into engagement with the straightsided edges of the slot in the flexible tongue to shift the blade transversely to properly aline the cutting edge with respect to the holder and to force the flexible tongue through the cut out portion of the guard member and out of the surface of the remainder of the blade.

13. In a safety razor including a blade having a cutting edge and a flexible tongue having a slot therein, the combination with a back member having a wedge-shaped lug projecting from its surface and adapted to enter the slot in the flexible tongue, a second lug projecting from the surface of the back member and spaced from the wedge shaped lug, a guard member having a cut out portion underlying the flexible tongue, and means to clamp the guard on the back member to retain the blade therebetween and to force the wedge-shaped lug into engagement with the edges of the slot in the flexible tongue to shift the blade transversely to properly aline the cutting edges with respect to the holder and to force the flexible tongue through the cut out portion of the guard member and out of the plane of the remainder of the blade, the flexible tongue` engaging the second lug when the guard and back members are separated to release the engagement between the wedge-shaped member and the edges of the slot in the flexible tongue as the flexible tongue returns to the plane of the remainder of the blade.

14. A safety razor comprising a blade having a cutting edge, a flexible tongue on said blade spaced from said cutting edge, a holder for said blade having a pair of lugs with opposed inclined flat faces, and means to clamp the blade in the holder and to force the flexible tongue between the opposed inclined flat faces of the lugs to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edge with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder.

l5. A safety razor comprising a blade having a cutting edge, a pair of flexible tongues at opposite sides of said blade and spaced from said cutting edge, a holder for said blade including a back member having two pairs of spaced lugs, the outer faces of each of the pairs of lugs being parallel and the inner faces of each pair being inclined and converging toward the back member, a guard member having rectangular opening extending through and underlying each of the flexible tongues and of a width slightly greater than the distance between the outer faces of each pair of lugs, and means to clamp the back and guard members together with the blade therebetween and to force the flexible tongues between the inclined converging faces of each pair of lugs and out of the plane of the remainder of the blade through said openings in the guard member to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edge with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder.

16. A safety razor comprising a substantially rectangular blade having a longitudinally-extending cutting edge and relatively wide, spaced, parallel slots extending inwardly from one end of the blade to define therebetween a flexible tongue spaced from said cutting edge, a holder for said blades including a back member having spaced lugs, the outer faces of which are parallel and the inner faces of which are inclined and converge toward the back member, a guard member having a cut-out portion underlying the flexible tongue and of a width slightly greater than the distance between the outer faces of the lugs, and means to clamp the back and guard members together with the blade therebetween and with the spaced lugs of the back member extending through the slots of the blade and through the cut-out portion of the guard member tol force the flexible tongue between the inclined converging faces of the spaced lugs and out of the plane of the remainder of the blade to shift the blade transversely of the holder to aline the cutting edge with respect to the holder as the blade is clamped in said holder.

ROBERT M. PRICE. 

